Looking forward to what comes next: High school senior reflects and relishes the future

Walking through the double doors of Williams High School on that first day of freshman year felt like torture.
That was August 2016.
It wasn’t long before friend groups started to form. We began pick favorite classes, and dread certain others. Freshman year was about individual growth, not only as a student, but as a person. You were supposed to make friends and memories to last a lifetime. And although there were stressful days leading up to quizzes and tests, and long nights spent preparing for finals, it all became worth it in the end. And as fall turned to winter, and winter turned to spring, freshman year quickly drew to a close. Just like that, it was over. And as it turns out, high school is only scary in the movies.
Summer came and went and sophomore year began. Classes were harder, and more expectations were set upon us as students. We weren’t kids anymore, and that feeling began sinking in for many of us. That winter, I joined swim team, and endured long practices and even longer meets. It all paid off when we qualified for regionals. Swim team was so much more than a team; they were a family. Later that year, I’d find another family after joining poetry club in preparation for the school’s annual poetry slam. This was something new for me, as I was always a writer, never a speaker. But after months of practice and encouragement from those around me, I stood up and performed in front of a crowd of people. And with that, it was over. The seasons changed once more, and junior year was upon us.
Junior year is the most important year of high school — at least that’s what everyone says. This is the year where everyone tries to figure out what to do after high school. Grades and grade point averages are more important than they’ve ever been before and the feeling of adulthood truly begins to sink in. The feeling of burnout also begins sinking in, as you realize senior year is so close, yet so far. I rejoined the swim team that year, during what felt like the longest year ever. Nothing could compare to the feeling of watching my team win, grow, and succeed, not only as athletes, but as individuals.
And as winter came and went, so did the season. Poetry season was here once again. The previous year was good in the sense that I learned how to write and perform. But this time, I didn’t want to be good, or even great. I wanted to be phenomenal. Standing on a stage in front of around 1,500 people is nerve-racking to say the least, but it was there that I realized how my words had the ability to move people. I walked on stage feeling like a girl, but walked off feeling like an empowering woman. And as the weeks continued to pass, school ended once again. Graduation came and went and goodbyes were said to those who were not only some of my closest friends, but mentors as well. Then it hit. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, it was finally senior year.
I’ve grown from an immature freshman, essentially a child, into a graduating senior. A young adult woman who is ready to go out into the world, with hopes to one day become a novelist — maybe the next Oprah Winfrey, J.K Rowling or Maya Angelou. Although it would be nice, money, fame and glory aren’t how success is measured. Success, to me, is changing one person’s life or inspiring one person to follow their dreams.
Going into senior year, I’m looking forward to what comes next. Graduation, early release, better classes, and so much more. But looking forward also means looking back on getting here. Remembering the people, places, friends and memories that have made you who you are. When you start high school, you’re told to make the most of these four years, because they go by quick. No one believes it at the time, but they’re right. Your time is short. It does not last. Hold on to your time in high school, and cherish all the memories you make.

Kamryn Guye is a senior at Williams High School and an intern at the Times-News. She can be reached at kguye@thetimesnews.com.